President Bola Tinubu has opted out of attending the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which is currently taking place in New York. Instead, Vice President Kashim Shettima will be representing Nigeria at the high-profile gathering of world leaders.
This decision was confirmed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who issued a statement explaining the President’s decision. According to the statement, President Tinubu is prioritizing domestic issues such as the flood disaster that recently affected the Maiduguri region of Borno State.
“President Tinubu has chosen to focus on addressing urgent domestic matters, such as the devastating flooding in Borno, which has displaced thousands of citizens,” the statement read. The flooding in Maiduguri affected an estimated 2 million people, with over 400,000 displaced.
Vice President Shettima will be attending the UNGA with the aim of discussing key global issues, including security, climate change, and Nigeria’s economic recovery plans. The Nigerian delegation hopes to strengthen international cooperation, particularly in areas related to investment and sustainable development.
The UNGA is an important platform where global leaders come together to address pressing world challenges, and Nigeria’s participation is seen as critical given the country’s position as a regional powerhouse in Africa.
